Mandrel for rolling bedding



Oct. 13, 1970 w, s Ms 3,533,572

MANDREL FOR ROLLING BEDDING Filed Aug. 26, 1968 INVENTOR. ROWELL W. SIMS T QRN YA V.

United States Patent O 3,533,572 MANDREL FOR ROLLING BEDDING Rowell W. Sims, 6901 Holladay Blvd., Salt Lake City, Utah 84121 Filed Aug. 26, 1968, Ser. No. 755,157 Int. Cl. B65h 17/02 US. Cl. 242-68 9 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A mandrel for rolling up bedding, notably sleeping bags. The mandrel comprises two slender, elongate, rigid rolling members and means for fastening corresponding ends of the rolling members to clamp the bedding securely between them. In use, the mandrel clamps the thickness of the bedding at one end to provide rigidity across the width of the bedding as it is rolled into a tightly compact bedroll.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field This invention relates to the transport and storage of bedding, particularly of the type used out-of-doors; e.g., sleeping bags. It specifically provides a mandrel adapted to clamp the thickness of a width of bedding when it is laid flat to facilitate rolling of the bedding into a tightly compact bedroll.

State of the art It is usual procedure to carry bedding, such as a sleep ing "bag, which is intended for use in the out-of-doors, tightly rolled into a bedroll. Such bedding is normally stored between instances of use in rolled condition. Although it is advantageous to roll the bedding into a tightly compact a roll as is possible, it is difficult to maintain sufficient rigidity across the width of the bedding during the rolling procedure to avoid producing a loose bundle. Satisfactory bedrolls are particularly difficult for children to produce because it is especially diflicult for them to maintain sufiicient rigidity across the width of the bag. Even adults with considerable experience cannot produce a tightly compact roll without the exercise of great care and without expending considerable time and effort.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides a clamping mandrel adapted to clamp over the thickness of bedding to provide rigidity across the width of the bedding as it is rolled. Accordingly, a sleeping bag or similar bedding may be rolled into a tightly compact bedroll requiring less space than do 'bedrolls fashioned by hand. Use of the mandrel of this invention saves time and effort as well as producing a highly desirably finished bedroll.

The mandrel of this invention comprises two slender, elongate, rigid rolling members and fastening means adapted to connect corresponding ends of the rolling members to hold them in spaced parallel relationship, clamped over the thickness of the bedding material to be rolled. The rolling members are preferably elongate rods of any suitable stiff material such as metal, plastic or wood. Although the rod may be of any desired cross section, highly preferred rolling members are cylindrical sticks of hardwood. The two rolling members are of approximately the same length and should be of sufficient length that when they are clamped in their normal position of use over the bedding to be rolled, with one member on side of the unrolled bedding, opposite ends of each rolling member project from the corresponding opposite sides of the bedding. The length of the rolling members is variable, but is desirably correlated to the width of the material being rolled. For example, a particularly popular type of sleeping bag is a fold-over bag, about 34 to about 36 inches in width. Such bags are customarily folded in half for rolling and are conveniently rolled on mandrels of this invention having rolling members about 18 inches long. For small bags and fold-over bags, rolling member lengths of about 16 to about 20 inches are preferred. Fold-over station wagon bags are conveniently rolled on a 24 inch mandrel while most adult-sized bags may be rolled flat, i. e., unfolded, on a 36 inch mandrel.

Any convenient fastening means adapted to hold the rolling members in spaced parallel relationship at varying distances from each other may be used. Usually, each end of each rolling member carries means adapted to connect to means carried by the corresponding end of its counterpart rolling member. In its preferred form, the mandrel is constructed of two separate but identical parts, each of which comprises a cylindrical stick of hardwood with a pin projecting from one end and a length of 2. flexible but durable anchoring material, such as a string, leather, Wire, cable, or chain, hanging from the opposite end. If desired, one of the rolling elements may be pro vided with a pin at each end while the other rolling member carries both lengths of anchoring material. The preferred anchoring material is a length of chain with individual links adapted to slip over the protruding end of a pin anchored to the corresponding end of the counterpart rolling member. In any event, the fastening means are adapted to hold the rolling members in clamping relationship across various thicknesses of bedding.

To use the device, the rolling members are placed parallel to each other on opposite sides of the thickness of the bedding to be rolled. The ends of the rolling members are fastened together by the fastening means to tightly clamp the bedding material between the rolling members. The bedding is then rolled up in the usual manner. The mandrel provides rigidity across the width of the bedding being rolled and produces a tightly compact bedroll. The mandrel may be left in place to provide tying points for carrying the completed bedroll, or the fastening means may be loosened and the rolling members withdrawn from the bedroll.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING In the drawing, which illustrates the best mode presently contemplated for carrying out the invention:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a preferred form of the mandrel of this invention;

FIG. 2, a pictorial View showing the mandrel of this invention clamped to the end of a sleeping bag; and

FIG. 3, a pictorial view of a completed bedroll produced by using the mandrel of this invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE ILLUSTRATED EMBODIMENT The mandrel illustrated by FIG. 1 comprises two separate but identical parts 10 and 20. The part designated 10 in the drawing includes a slender, elongate, rigid, cylindrical stick of hardwood 11; a length of chain 12 attached at one end of the stick by a broad head nail 13; and a pin 14 protruding from the opposite end of the stick. In the illustrated instance, the pin 14 is a finishing nail driven partially into the end of the stick. The chain 12 is made up of a plurality of links 12a, preferably fabricated from sheet metal perforated and folded on itself to provide link openings 12b. The opposite ends 11a and 11b of the cylindrical stick 11 are capped with plastic end caps 15. The nail 13 and pin 14 are driven through the end caps 15 into the stick 11.

The part of the mandrel designated 20 includes a cylindrical stick 21; a length of chain 22 and a pin 24, assembled in the same fashion as previously described in connection with part 10. The cylindrical sticks 11 and 21 are the counterpart rolling members of the mandrel, and are preferably sixteen to about thirty-six inches in length, depending on the width of the bag to be rolled. The link openings 12b of the chain 12 carried by the rolling member 11 are adapted to slip over the pin 24 carried by the counterpart rolling member 21. The link openings 22b of the counterpart length of chain 22 are similarly adapted to slip over the pin 14 carried by rolling member 11.

Referring to FIG. 2, the separate parts and of the mandrel are positioned with the rolling members 11 and 21, respectively, parallel to each other on opposite sides of the sleeping bag 16 adjacent one end of the bag. Opposite ends 11a and 11b of stick 11 project beyond corresponding opposite sides 16a and 16b of the sleeping bag as do the corresponding opposite ends 21a and 21b of the counterpart stick 21. The chains 12 and 22 are hooked over the adjacent pins 24 and 14, respectively, by slipping the particular link openings which will hold the rolling members in position to tightly clamp the thickness of the bag over the pin. The sleeping bag may then be rolled around the mandrel to produce a tightly compact bedroll as illustrated by FIG. 3. If desired, the chains may be subsequently unhooked from the pins and the rolling members withdrawn from the roll.

I claim::

1. A mandrel for rolling bedding into a tightly compact bedroll, which comprises two slender, elongate, rigid rolling members of sufficient length to extend the entire width of the bedding with opposite ends of each said rolling member projecting beyond corresponding opposite sides of said "bedding; and

flexible fastening means carried by said rolling members to connect corresponding ends of the rolling member when said rolling members are placed in their normal position of use parallel to each other on opposite sides of the bedding with the thickness- 2. A mandrel according to claim 1 in which the rolling members are elongate rods.

3. A mandrel according to claim 2 wherein, when the rods are parallel to each other in their normal position of use, the fastening means at the ends of the rods are:

a pin protruding from the end of one of the rods; and a length of flexible, durable, anchoring material fastened to the corresponding end of the counterpart rod and adapted for fastening to said pin at various positions along its length.

4. A device according to claim 3 wherein the flexible, durable anchoring material is chain with link openings adapted to slip over the protruding end of the pin.

5. A device according to claim 4 wherein the rods are cylindrical sticks of hardwood.

6. A mandrel according to claim '5 wherein the two hardwood sticks are of approximately the same length, about 16 to about 20 inches.

7. A mandrel according to claim 3 wherein each rod has a pin in one end and a length of flexible, durable, anchoring material fastened to its opposite end so that the mandrel comprises two separate but approximately identical parts.

8. A mandrel according to claim 7 wherein the rods are cylindrical sticks of wood.

9. A mandrel according to claim 8 wherein the flexible, durable anchoring material is chain with links adapted to slip over the protruding end of the pin.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 649,694- 5/1900 Hunter 242-68 X 756,132 3/1904 Munson et al. 24268 1,226,407 5/1917 Taylor et al. 242-8652 1,307,175 6/1919 Bailey 242-72 NATHAN LOUIS MINTZ, Primary Examiner 

